May I borrow that

Since Faith has excelled at her first grade adding and subtracting, I introduced borrowing with her. She has picked it up; not surprisingly and is now doing it on her own. She can identify and explain the type of math equation needed to use borrowing. After borrowing we are going to start some words problems that she will have to read and figure out. Borrowing in math is skill not taught in first grade but she is not going to be a typical first grader. I have high hopes for her. She is ready to start school. Faith loves the challenge of school. This is the longest she has been away from it since she was two. We have always been in school throughout the summer. I stand firm on my decision to disenroll for the summer. It has brought us much needed family time to learn to play together and respect one another.

2nd grade reader

So I can't believe that Faith is about 4 weeks away from starting 1st grade. We have decided we ought to get back into the swing of reader as we tend to slack on it. Starfall has been an excellent source of learning for her but we continue to learn to new words each day. I decided to give Faith a reading quiz from a list of second grade words today. These words included words like brother, second, when, short, large, who, please, sleep, there, children, goodbye, pretty and about thirty other words. Sometimes I think that I don't really know what she is capable of reading but her old kindergarten teacher gives me confidence that she will continue to be in the top reading group upon entering the 1st grade. Faith read all 42 words correctly. I offered her a sweettart for each row she read correctly. She works for candy. It is a secret of mine. She read six rows correctly. I honestly feel that these words were too easy for her and we will challenge ourselves to a third grade list next time.

Daddy's home

Faith spent all day yesterday with Bud. He is home from his schooling in South Carolina and was welcomed home with a party complete with balloons and ice cream cake; our favorite. Faith must have exhausted Bud but I couldn't tell; only a nap in the middle of the day and early to bed for a 440am rise. Faith and Bud hit the golf balls in the back yard, played at the playground, walked at the creek and enjoyed some daddy horsebackriding and wrestling. She had so much fun. Our cable has been turned off since the move is coming up in as little as two weeks. The lack of t.v. has forced us to play together and sit with each other. Having Faith's daddy home is good news for all of us.

Backpack, backpack

Faith is full swing of getting excited for first grade. With just a few weeks remaining she is preparing herself for school. What she couldn't stop talking about was her new backpack. She continuously asked and asked until I finally decided she did not need to wait until we move to have one. We visited a girls only store called Justice and there she found it. Just happened to be my favorite color of purple. It also has some blue in it to make it a swirling tie dye look complete with a silver B on the front, heart and peace sign. Not only did we find her a backpack she found a matching water bottle and magnetic frog to hang on top. She messed with her backpack until 8pm and kept asking if she would have to carry it each day to school. It is exciting for her to go to the big school. I hope it is everything we are looking for.

Hello time out

Faith stomps the ground immediately after hearing the words "go sit in the chair" This is the third time out of the day and Faith now sits even more than her usual five minutes. Evidently she needs more time to focus on how to cool down and keep her composure rather than screaming that Champ is bad or she wants to punch me. Faith remains frustrated with her brother. Champ is wanting to play with her alot more now and sometimes Faith doesn't want the company. He doesn't understand her reasoning behind not wanting to play and she doesn't understand why he continues to want to play with her. I took some time to play one on one with her this afternoon and continued to clean and pack for our move. She seemed to be better as I noticed that the time out chair was not needed that night. I can't stand Faith's loud screaming at anyone. It is uncalled for. She needs to learn to feel that anger rising and move away from the situation. Maybe she'll get better soon.

Life with a little brother

I never had a little brother, being the youngest in my family. Faith is learning to deal with her little brother. We have decided to leave Andma's house a few days early after having a swinging match between Champ and Faith. The argument goes like this.
Faith- LEAVE ME ALONE!
Champ- NO!
Faith- LEAVE ME ALONE!
Champ- NO!
Faith- LEAVE ME ALONE!
Champ- NO!
Faith- I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE! (arms swing, arms swing, contact made)
Mom- Come on Champ, leave your sister alone she's not playing nicely.
Faith- I am too nice. Punch Punch Punch.

The decision to leave early was announced after about 5 minutes of swinging and punching without cooling down. We are back to our home Thursday for a few more weeks. Champ and Faith are going to learn to play together. But Faith especially is going to learn to cool her jets or the time out chair is going to become a good friend.

Cousins....beautiful cousins

Faith has been taking the time to play with her cousins the last few days. She seems to be having loads of fun. We have visited the swimming pool the last two afternoons and played. One of the many things that she enjoys about her cousins are the popsicles that she gets to eat. So far this week Faith has had a girls night party complete with nail painting, pool jumping and splashing, sand digging, corn field walking and tree climbing. Faith is at a good age to play with her cousins. They are quite a bit older which is what makes it fun for her. Her cousins are caring and fun. They include her in everything they do. Since their mom lives out in the country the freedom is also great for her to just go outside and run. I don't worry about her getting hit by a car or anything. She is safe and here to have lots of fun. Mission complete!

Tree hugger

Faith is turning into a tree hugger, literally. She has learned how to get up into trees and make her way up to the higher branches. We visited her great grandfather again today at the nursing home to play BINGO. After playing for about an hour Faith and I took him outside in his wheelchair for some fresh air. It was such a nice day today as the hot summer heat had taken a break from its usual position. Faith wanted to climb a tree that she had climbed last time and boy oh boy did she climb. She went up, over, down and up some more until I told her it was time to head home. Upon arrival at her Andma's house she discovered that Pa Pa had trimmed a tree of Sharon. It turned out to be the perfect height for climbing with branches spreading out perfectly. She climbed all the way to the top peaking her head out and yelling at me that she had reached the top. She wants to be just like me in all she does. Makes me think about what I am doing sometimes however I'm sure that I am a good role model 90% of the time.

Look ma' no hands!!

Since Faith has become comfortable with her bicycle I catch her trying to be daring like riding with one hand. Despite my efforts to keep her safe she is bound and determined to be adventurous. Faith went on her first bike ride last night. It wasn't just any bike ride it was her first trip through town using stop signs, watching for traffic, turning onto roads and slowing down at intersections. This girl is so awesome and has no fear when it comes to this bicycle. I can't believe how fast she has taken to her bike. It's like she was born to ride a bike. What is even better is that my old bicycle was found, cleaned up and gears greased. So we rode together before bed and she LOVED it.

Practice, practice, practice

When you want something really bad, practice is the key. Determination must be present. Faith so wants to do her new gymnastics tricks on her own. She has a drive to want to learn more in the hopes of being able to learn a backhandspring. After just one gym class here in the Midwest, she has learned how to do her back limber. We are working on pulling up from a bridge and then we will move onto a backwalkover and front limber. I see myself in her in many things she does. Maybe this is because I am around her all the time and I rub off on her. She wants to have her new tricks by then end of summer. I'll help her.

Out on the boat

We went some our family's lake house last night for a picnic and swimming. Faith had such a good time. Neither one of us realized she was going to get to jump in the lake but when her cousins said they were going to we quickly changed our clothes. Faith crossed the lake on her raft, splashed, floated and cruised on the pontoon boat. She said it was her best 4th of July ever. Although the fireworks were loud she got used to the booms and enjoyed herself while lying on the hill. Our trip here to the midwest is turning out to be a trip to remember.

Beating the heat

The summer heat has arrived and Faith and I are trying to stay cool. Despite our efforts to make it to the big swimming pool we have found a peanut shaped pool from Walmart that has succeeded in cooling us off. It is big enough for me to jump in. Faith and I chased each other around the sprinkler yesterday playing tag. Whoever makes it into the pool is on base. While Champ ventured out on the scooter with Andma, Faith and I were left to enjoy the warm pool and hot weather. We must of ran 30 minutes before deciding it was time to clean up and ride our bikes. Faith rode all around a nearby bowling alley all by herself. I tried to keep up on the scooter but she is fast. Midwest heat can be hot but the kiddie pool continues to be our friend.